{ "id": 4277968, "name": "THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. ANTHONY RICHARDSON, Defendant-Appellant", "name_abbreviation": "People v. Richardson", "decision_date": "2008-04-21", "docket_number": "No. 1\u201405\u20140955", "first_page": "248", "last_page": "259", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "382 Ill. App. 3d 248" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ill. App. Ct.", "id": 8837, "name": "Illinois Appellate Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 29, "name_long": "Illinois", "name": "Ill." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "802 N.E.2d 1240", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 2003, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "counsel \"need not scour the record to ascertain any other potential errors and constitutional issues not implicated in the defendant's pro se petition\" (emphasis added)" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "345 Ill. App. 3d 636", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 5872912 ], "year": 2003, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "643", "parenthetical": "counsel \"need not scour the record to ascertain any other potential errors and constitutional issues not implicated in the defendant's pro se petition\" (emphasis added)" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/345/0636-01" ] }, { "cite": "227 Ill. 2d 247", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 5706027 ], "year": 2008, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/227/0247-01" ] }, { "cite": "594 N.E.2d 276", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1992, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "finding postconviction counsel \"substantially complied with the mandate of Rule 651(c)\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "149 Ill. 2d 36", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 5599324 ], "year": 1992, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "63", "parenthetical": "finding postconviction counsel \"substantially complied with the mandate of Rule 651(c)\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/149/0036-01" ] }, { "cite": "251 N.E.2d 200", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1969, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "failure to confer does not meet even a minimal professional standard" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "43 Ill. 2d 121", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 2843522 ], "year": 1969, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "failure to confer does not meet even a minimal professional standard" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/43/0121-01" ] }, { "cite": "251 N.E.2d 218", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1969, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "failure to consult is a failure to discharge an elementary responsibility of representation" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "43 Ill. 2d 160", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 2843476 ], "year": 1969, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "failure to consult is a failure to discharge an elementary responsibility of representation" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/43/0160-01" ] }, { "cite": "838 N.E.2d 972", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 2005, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "361 Ill. App. 3d 963", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 4259860 ], "weight": 7, "year": 2005, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "967" }, { "page": "969" }, { "page": "969" }, { "page": "968" }, { "page": "970" }, { "page": "967-68" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/361/0963-01" ] }, { "cite": "235 N.E.2d 566", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1968, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "39 Ill. 2d 278", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 2857541 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1968, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "285" }, { "page": "285" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/39/0278-01" ] }, { "cite": "229 Ill. 2d 34", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 3614852 ], "year": 2007, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "44" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/229/0034-01" ] }, { "cite": "619 N.E.2d 750", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "only supreme court has authority to vacate voidable lesser offenses \"in exercise of [its] supervisory authority\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "156 Ill. 2d 149", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 777558 ], "weight": 4, "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "160", "parenthetical": "only supreme court has authority to vacate voidable lesser offenses \"in exercise of [its] supervisory authority\"" }, { "page": "164" }, { "page": "164" }, { "page": "164" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/156/0149-01" ] }, { "cite": "584 N.E.2d 515", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "improper to convict on felony murder and underlying felony" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "223 Ill. App. 3d 169", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 5256997 ], "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "170", "parenthetical": "improper to convict on felony murder and underlying felony" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/223/0169-01" ] }, { "cite": "862 N.E.2d 977", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 2007, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "224 Ill. 2d 37", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 3606913 ], "weight": 8, "year": 2007, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "42" }, { "page": "46" }, { "page": "46" }, { "page": "46" }, { "page": "46" }, { "page": "46" }, { "page": "47" }, { "page": "41" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/224/0037-01" ] }, { "cite": "701 N.E.2d 1063", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1998, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "183 Ill. 2d 366", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 209962 ], "year": 1998, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "389" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/183/0366-01" ] }, { "cite": "675 N.E.2d 102", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1996, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "174 Ill. 2d 410", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 223616 ], "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "418" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/174/0410-01" ] }, { "cite": "861 N.E.2d 999", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 2006, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "223 Ill. 2d 458", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 3604764 ], "weight": 8, "year": 2006, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "471" }, { "page": "475" }, { "page": "476" }, { "page": "475" }, { "page": "476" }, { "page": "476" }, { "page": "475-76" }, { "page": "475" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/223/0458-01" ] }, { "cite": "791 N.E.2d 489", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 2003, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "204 Ill. 2d 426", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 609690 ], "year": 2003, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/204/0426-01" ] }, { "cite": "530 U.S. 466", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 9413911 ], "weight": 3, "year": 2000, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/530/0466-01" ] }, { "cite": "481 U.S. 551", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 6218288 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1987, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/481/0551-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 984, "char_count": 27548, "ocr_confidence": 0.839, "pagerank": { "raw": 6.817582058093903e-08, "percentile": 0.4163592163095223 }, "sha256": "4667f743337c5fb907ba4ee3414477b5abb64e6e8bd4e43823a4dcc99164daaf", "simhash": "1:28a4ef1205e3b4f2", "word_count": 4320 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T21:27:01.752924+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. ANTHONY RICHARDSON, Defendant-Appellant." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "JUSTICE GARCIA\ndelivered the opinion of the court:\nThe defendant, Anthony Richardson, appeals the trial court\u2019s dismissal of his successive postconviction petition. Richardson argues his appointed postconviction counsel provided unreasonable assistance by failing to amend his petition to include allegations he was brutalized by Detective Robert Dwyer and other detectives working under the command of Jon Burge at Area 2 Violent Crimes, and he was denied the effective assistance of counsel on direct appeal. Richardson also contends appointed counsel failed to satisfy the requirements of Illinois Supreme Court Rule 651(c) (134 Ill. 2d R. 651(c)).\nOn August 13, 2007, this court entered an order pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 23 (166 Ill. 2d R. 23) in which we affirmed the judgment of the trial court. Richardson subsequently filed a petition for rehearing pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 367 (210 Ill. 2d R. 367). We asked the State to respond, and Richardson replied. We granted the petition for rehearing and granted oral argument. After reconsidering the matter in light of the arguments on rehearing, we again affirm the judgment of the trial court.\nBACKGROUND\nAt approximately 7 a.m. on February 20, 1984, the power went out in 20-year-old Angela Crum\u2019s apartment. When she went to the basement in an apparent attempt to check the fuse box, she was stabbed twice in the heart. Crum died shortly thereafter.\nRichardson, who lived in Crum\u2019s apartment building, was arrested on the evening of the murder and was taken to Area 2 headquarters, where he was questioned by detectives. At 8:20 a.m. on February 21, 1984, Richardson gave an incriminating statement before a court reporter in the presence of an assistant State\u2019s Attorney and Chicago police detective Robert Dwyer. According to the statement, Richardson went to the basement at 6:50 a.m. with a flashlight and a knife. He tampered with Crum\u2019s fuse box in an attempt to \u201clure\u201d her to the basement because he \u201cwanted to screw around with her,\u201d that is, to have sex with her. When Crum entered the basement, Richardson \u201cjumped out of the dark\u201d and grabbed her. Richardson told Crum he did not want to hurt her, he just wanted to \u201cfool around a little.\u201d When Crum resisted, Richardson \u201cmade an accident\u201d and stabbed her. Richardson\u2019s statement also detailed how he asked the building\u2019s custodian and his neighbor for help, and how he took the knife, a scarf Crum had been wearing, and a flashlight Crum had been carrying, to Bob\u2019s apartment. The statement also described how he retrieved an animal-print blanket from his own apartment, wrapped Crum in it, and attempted without success to carry Crum out of the basement.\nPrior to trial, Richardson sought to suppress his statement. Richardson testified at the hearing that the investigating detectives repeatedly punched him in the stomach, handcuffed him to a ring in the wall of an interview room, and kept a plastic bag over his head until he lost consciousness. Richardson, however, denied ever making a statement admitting to Crum\u2019s murder. The trial court denied Richardson\u2019s motion, accepting the testimony from the investigating officers, including Detectives Dwyer and Grunhard, that no abuse occurred.\nAt trial, the State advanced the theory that Richardson tampered with the electricity to Crum\u2019s apartment in order to lure her to the basement, where he was waiting with a knife to rape her. When Crum resisted, Richardson killed her. The State presented Richardson\u2019s statement and corroborative incriminating evidence, including eyewitness testimony from the building\u2019s custodian and testimony from a neighbor who identified the blanket in which Crum\u2019s body was found as belonging to Richardson. The defense conceded Richardson stabbed Crum, but argued the evidence would show the stabbing was an accident.\nAfter a bench trial, the trial court found Richardson guilty of three counts of murder, attempted rape, and unlawful restraint. The court sentenced Richardson to an 80-year extended-term sentence based on the court\u2019s finding that the murder was exceptionally brutal and heinous, and to concurrent 15-year and 3-year sentences for the attempted rape and unlawful restraint convictions.\nOn direct appeal, Richardson argued the trial court erred in imposing an 80-year extended-term sentence because the offenses were not accompanied by exceptionally brutal conduct, and two of his three murder convictions must be vacated. This court vacated two of the murder convictions and affirmed Richardson\u2019s felony murder conviction and remaining convictions and sentences. People v. Richardson, No. 1\u201485\u20141409 (1987) (unpublished order pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 23).\nOn January 6, 1992, Richardson filed a pro se postconviction petition in which he alleged (1) his trial counsel was ineffective for pursuing the defense theory that Crum\u2019s death was accidental and for failing to object when not all witnesses material to Richardson\u2019s motion to suppress statements were called to testify, and (2) the trial court erred in finding his warrantless arrest was supported by probable cause. In making his material-witness contention, Richardson included an allegation that his confession had been physically coerced. In his petition, Richardson also alleged appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to raise trial counsel\u2019s ineffectiveness. The trial court summarily dismissed the petition. This court subsequently allowed appellate counsel\u2019s motion to withdraw from the case pursuant to Pennsylvania v. Finley, 481 U.S. 551, 95 L. Ed. 2d 539, 107 S. Ct. 1990 (1987), and affirmed the dismissal. People v. Richardson, 1\u201492\u20140830 (1993) (unpublished order pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 23).\nOn January 16, 2003, Richardson filed a successive postconviction petition in which he argued his 80-year extended-term sentence violated the rule of Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 147 L. Ed. 2d 435, 120 S. Ct. 2348 (2000). The trial court appointed counsel to represent Richardson. Appointed counsel filed an amended petition on June 16, 2004, in which she argued Richardson\u2019s sentence violated Apprendi for reasons unaddressed by the supreme court in People v. De La Paz, 204 Ill. 2d 426, 791 N.E.2d 489 (2003), which held that Apprendi did not apply retroactively to cases on collateral review. Appointed counsel filed a certificate pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 651(c) (134 Ill. 2d R. 651(c)) on September 23, 2004, in which she stated (1) she consulted with Richardson by letters, (2) she obtained and examined the report of proceedings of Richardson\u2019s trial, and (3) she prepared a supplemental petition for postconviction relief \u201caugmenting [Richardson\u2019s] previously filed Petition for Post Conviction Relief.\u201d Appointed counsel also stated in the certificate that the supplemental petition \u201cadequately complements [Richardson\u2019s] claims of deprivation of his constitutional rights.\u201d\nThe trial court subsequently granted the State\u2019s motion to dismiss Richardson\u2019s petition. This appeal followed.\nANALYSIS\nRichardson contends the record fails to affirmatively show appointed postconviction counsel satisfied her duties under Supreme Court Rule 651(c) where she failed to amend Richardson\u2019s pro se petition to include two claims: (1) his due process rights were violated when he was brutalized by detectives at Area 2; and (2) his appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to challenge his conviction of attempted rape as a lesser included offense of murder and his conviction of unlawful restraint as a lesser included offense of attempted rape.\nIn noncapital criminal cases, the Post-Conviction Hearing Act (725 ILCS 5/122\u20141 et seq. (West 2004)) establishes a three-step procedure for a defendant to challenge a conviction based on a substantial denial of constitutional rights. People v. Pendleton, 223 Ill. 2d 458, 471, 861 N.E.2d 999 (2006). If the circuit court determines a pro se petition states the gist of a constitutional claim, the petition moves to the second stage, where counsel may be appointed if the petitioner so requests and is indigent. 725 ILCS 5/122\u20142.1(b), 122\u20144 (West 2004); People v. Gaultney, 174 Ill. 2d 410, 418, 675 N.E.2d 102 (1996). At the second stage, if a substantial showing of a constitutional violation is made, a third-stage evidentiary hearing is ordered. 725 ILCS 5/122\u20146 (West 2004). Dismissal of a postconviction petition without an evidentiary hearing is reviewed de novo. People v. Coleman, 183 Ill. 2d 366, 389, 701 N.E.2d 1063 (1998).\nRegarding the appointment of counsel at the second stage of proceedings, our supreme court has explained:\n\u201cThere is no constitutional right to the assistance of counsel in postconviction proceedings; the right to counsel is wholly statutory (see 725 ILCS 5/122\u20144 (West 2000)), and petitioners are only entitled to the level of assistance provided for by the Post-Conviction Hearing Act (Act) [citations]. The Act provides for a reasonable level of assistance. [Citation.] To ensure that postconviction petitioners receive this level of assistance, Rule 651(c) imposes specific duties on postconviction counsel.\u201d People v. Suarez, 224 Ill. 2d 37, 42, 862 N.E.2d 977 (2007).\nIn his rehearing petition, Richardson argues \u201c[h]ad post-conviction counsel satisfied her duties under Rule 651(c), she would have presented newly available evidence to support Mr. Richardson\u2019s consistent claim that his confession was coerced by Area 2 detectives acting under Jon Burge, including Detective Robert Dwyer *** and argued that his appellate counsel failed to contest his improper lesser-included sentences.\u201d Richardson points to new evidence demonstrating instances of police torture at Area 2 headquarters and points out he was improperly convicted of lesser included offenses, including the underlying felony of felony murder. See People v. Johnson, 223 Ill. App. 3d 169, 170, 584 N.E.2d 515 (1991) (improper to convict on felony murder and underlying felony); People v. Davis, 156 Ill. 2d 149, 160, 619 N.E.2d 750 (1993) (only supreme court has authority to vacate voidable lesser offenses \u201cin exercise of [its] supervisory authority\u201d).\nWe agree with Richardson that the resolution of this case turns on counsel\u2019s \u201cduties under Rule 651(c).\u201d Rule 651(c) imposes on counsel the duties that she have\n\u201cconsulted with petitioner either by mail or in person to ascertain his contentions of deprivation of constitutional rights, has examined the record of the proceedings at the trial, and made any amendments to the petitions filed pro se that are necessary for an adequate presentation of petitioner\u2019s contentions.\u201d 134 Ill. 2d R. 651(c).\nRule 651(c) provides that a showing of such compliance with the enumerated duties be made in the record filed with the circuit court or by \u201ccertificate of petitioner\u2019s attorney,\u201d confirming she has consulted, examined and amended as required by the rule. \u201c[T]he purpose of Rule 651(c) is to ensure that counsel shapes the petitioner\u2019s claims into proper legal form and presents those claims to the court.\u201d People v. Perkins, 229 Ill. 2d 34, 44 (2007). Richardson contends counsel\u2019s certificate is \u201cincomplete and therefore insufficient to create a presumption of compliance with Rule 651(c).\u201d According to Richardson, \u201c[p]ost-conviction counsel simply certified that she \u2018consulted with the petitioner by letters,\u2019 \u201d but did not certify that she \u201cconsulted with [Richardson] in order \u2018to ascertain his contentions of deprivation of constitutional right,\u2019 \u201d as required by Rule 651(c). Richardson also argues that although postconviction counsel certified she prepared a supplemental petition that \u201cadequately complements petitioner\u2019s claims of deprivation of his constitutional rights,\u201d she did not certify she made \u201cany amendments *** necessary for an adequate presentation\u201d of Richardson\u2019s claims, as required by Rule 651(c).\nIn effect, Richardson argues that had his counsel below adequately reviewed the record, she would have discovered his \u201cconsistent claim\u201d of being brutalized based on the suppression hearing challenging the investigating detectives\u2019 claim that he confessed to the murder, and his improper convictions of lesser included offenses. Thus, in satisfying her duty to \u201camend\u201d under Rule 651(c), counsel would have added the brutality and improper convictions claims to his pro se petition.\nWe examine our case law to determine whether there is any authority for the legal obligation Richardson seeks to impose on post-conviction counsel below.\nThe Post-Conviction Hearing Act recognizes that \u201cmost postconviction petitions [are] filed by pro se prisoners who lack[ ] the assistance of counsel in framing their petitions.\u201d Suarez, 224 Ill. 2d at 46. Appointment of counsel is provided for those that satisfy the \u201cgist\u201d requirement \u201cto ensure that the complaints of a prisoner are adequately presented.\u201d Suarez, 224 Ill. 2d at 46.\nThe pronouncements of the supreme court have made clear, however, it is the \u201ccomplaints of a prisoner\u201d that frame counsel\u2019s duties under Rule 651(c). As recently reaffirmed by our supreme court, \u201c \u2018 [p]ost-conviction counsel is only required to investigate and properly present the petitioner\u2019s claims.\u2019 \u201d (Emphasis in original.) Pendleton, 223 Ill. 2d at 475, quoting Davis, 156 Ill. 2d at 164. \u201cWhile postconviction counsel may conduct a broader examination of the record [than the issues raised in the pro se petition might require] (Davis, 156 Ill. 2d at 164), and may raise additional issues if he or she so chooses, there is no obligation to do so.\u201d (Emphasis in original.) Pendleton, 223 Ill. 2d at 476. In the circumstance where no certificate was filed, our supreme court stated much the same. \u201c \u2018The statute cannot perform its function unless the attorney appointed to represent an indigent petitioner ascertains the basis of his complaints, shapes those complaints into appropriate legal form and presents them to the court.\u2019 \u201d (Emphasis added.) Suarez, 224 Ill. 2d at 46, quoting People v. Slaughter, 39 Ill. 2d 278, 285, 235 N.E.2d 566 (1968).\nRichardson contends the supreme court\u2019s language in Pendleton and Suarez does not dictate the outcome here because our analysis must focus on the inadequacy of the certificate of compliance filed by postconviction counsel.\nIn support of his contention that the certificate here fell short, Richardson relies most heavily on People v. Bashaw, 361 Ill. App. 3d 963, 838 N.E.2d 972 (2005). In Bashaw, a decision from the Second District, appointed postconviction counsel\u2019s Rule 651(c) certificate stated:\n\u201c \u20182. *** I have consulted by mail with [defendant] concerning the allegations in this post-conviction petition.\n3. *** I have examined the record of proceedings on appeal as to the issues being raised by the defendant.\n4. *** t he [szc] petitioner has indicated that he wishes to rely on his original post conviction petition.\u2019 \u201d (Emphasis in original.) Bashaw, 361 Ill. App. 3d at 967.\nThe reviewing court concluded appointed counsel\u2019s certificate fell short in two ways. First, counsel failed to certify she reviewed the record of the proceedings at trial, as opposed to on appeal. Second, counsel failed to certify she \u201cmade \u2018any amendments to the petitions filed pro se that are necessary for an adequate presentation of petitioner\u2019s contentions.\u2019 \u201d Bashaw, 361 Ill. App. 3d at 969, quoting 134 Ill. 2d R. 651(c). The court found counsel\u2019s deference to the defendant\u2019s decision to \u201c \u2018rely on his original postconviction petition\u2019 \u201d was not an \u201cappropriate substitute\u201d for counsel\u2019s duty to make any necessary amendments to the pro se petition \u201c \u2018for an adequate presentation of petitioner\u2019s contentions.\u2019 [Citation.]\u201d Bashaw, 361 Ill. App. 3d at 969. Further, the court concluded the record of the postconviction proceedings \u201ccast serious doubt\u201d on the notion that appointed postconviction counsel reviewed the trial proceedings. Bashaw, 361 Ill. App. 3d at 968. Consequently, the court reversed the dismissal of the defendant\u2019s petition and remanded for Rule 651(c) compliance. Bashaw, 361 Ill. App. 3d at 970.\nWe read Bashaw to hold that either of the two shortfalls regarding the certificate would suffice to warrant reversal based on noncompliance with Rule 651(c). We may differ with the Bashaw court as to its reading of the certificate there as falling short of a showing \u201cthat counsel had in fact reviewed the trial proceedings\u201d because of postconviction counsel\u2019s \u201cremarks during the proceedings below.\u201d Bashaw, 361 Ill. App. 3d at 967-68. We do not disagree that postconviction counsel improperly acceded to the petitioner\u2019s \u201cwishes to rely on his original postconviction petition.\u201d Such deference violates the spirit of the Act and our supreme court\u2019s admonishment in Suarez, 224 Ill. 2d at 46, quoting People v. Slaughter, 39 Ill. 2d at 285, \u201c \u2018The statute cannot perform its function unless the attorney appointed to represent an indigent petitioner ascertains the basis of his complaints, shapes those complaints into appropriate legal form and presents them to the court.\u2019 \u201d Consistent with Bashaw, we examine the record here to determine whether postconviction counsel complied with her Rule 651(c) duties to ascertain the basis of Richardson\u2019s complaints, shape those complaints into legal form and present them to the circuit court.\nThere is no dispute that even a most liberal reading of the complaints in Richardson\u2019s instant pro se petition does not make out a claim other than one based on Apprendi. There is also no question that the defendant\u2019s first pro se petition, filed in 1992, set out \u201callegations that he was brutalized\u201d by an arresting detective. But Richardson did not reassert that allegation in his successive pro se petition at issue in this case. Nor does Richardson contend otherwise. Rather, his contention boils down to the state of the record that, also without question, supports the two claims Richardson contends should have been amended to his pro se petition.\nIn our original Rule 23 decision we affirmed based on the authority of Pendleton. In his petition for rehearing, Richardson contends our reliance on Pendleton was mistaken. \u201cPendleton did not involve post-conviction counsel\u2019s failure to satisfy Rule 651(c)\u2019s consultation requirement or to review the trial record, but addressed only post-conviction counsel\u2019s failure to raise a claim that was not included in the pro se petition.\u201d We must reject Richardson\u2019s attempt to limit the supreme court\u2019s explicit language in Pendleton regarding the specific duties required under Rule 651(c). \u201cRule 651(c) only requires postconviction counsel to examine as much of the record \u2018as is necessary to adequately present and support those constitutional claims raised by the petitioner.\u2019 \u201d (Emphasis added.) Pendleton, 223 Ill. 2d at 475, quoting People v. Davis, 156 Ill. 2d at 164 (2005). While postconviction counsel below was free to reassert claims Richardson contends she should have added, albeit on the hope that the State would not raise a res judicata defense as the claims were previously rejected by this court, we are compelled to conclude postconviction counsel was under \u201cno obligation to do so.\u201d Pendleton, 223 Ill. 2d at 476.\nWe also find no support for Richardson\u2019s contrary reading of Pendleton in Suarez, where the court once again discussed counsel\u2019s duties under Rule 651(c). In Suarez, the court made clear that when no Rule 651(c) certificate of compliance is filed, a clear and affirmative showing of compliance on the record must be present. As the supreme court observed, the vindication of constitutional rights of prisoners depends heavily on the involvement of counsel. Suarez, 224 Ill. 2d at 46, citing People v. Jones, 43 Ill. 2d 160, 251 N.E.2d 218 (1969) (failure to consult is a failure to discharge an elementary responsibility of representation), and People v. Garrison, 43 Ill. 2d 121, 251 N.E.2d 200 (1969) (failure to confer does not meet even a minimal professional standard). Compliance with the specific duties of Rule 651(c) cannot turn on the merit of the claims contained in the pro se petition, itself, because counsel is duty-bound to examine the \u201ccomplaints\u201d or allegations in the pro se petition for a gist of a constitutional deprivation that may go beyond the express claims that the petitioner raises. While an Apprendi-type complaint may be expressly contained in a pro se petition, as it apparently was in Suarez, the professional responsibility of postconviction counsel is to determine whether the petitioner complains of other constitutional violations as well. Finally, the Suarez court observed \u201cfundamental fairness may require the review of waived issues.\u201d Suarez, 224 Ill. 2d at 47.\nRichardson\u2019s postconviction counsel\u2019s certificate states:\n\u201c1.1 have consulted with petitioner by letters.\n2.1 have obtained and examined the Report of Proceedings of the trial *** which trial was heard by the Honorable Judge William Cousins.\n3. I have prepared a Supplemental Petition for Post Conviction Relief augmenting Petitioner\u2019s previously filed Petition for Post Conviction Relief and state that said supplemental petition adequately complements petitioner\u2019s claims of deprivation of his constitutional rights.\u201d\nWe find counsel substantially complied with her specific duties under Rule 651(c), even against the alleged shortcomings of the certificate as pointed out by Richardson. First, counsel plainly asserted she \u201cexamined the Report of Proceedings of the trial.\u201d Second, it is reasonable to infer that counsel consulted \u201cwith petitioner by letters\u201d regarding her second-stage appointment \u201cto ascertain his contentions\u201d of constitutional deprivation set out in his pro se petition as required by Rule 651(c). Finally, counsel asserted she \u201cprepared a Supplemental Petition for Post Conviction Relief\u201d that \u201cadequately complement[ed]\u201d Richardson\u2019s claims of constitutional deprivation, which we conclude was in substantial compliance with her duty to make \u201cany amendments *** necessary for an adequate presentation of [the defendant\u2019s] contentions,\u201d as required by Rule 651(c) (134 Ill. 2d R. 651(c)).\nWe conclude that in this case, unlike in Bashaw, counsel exercised her professional judgment in her representation of Richardson and did not improperly defer to the defendant\u2019s wishes. We note that were we to find counsel\u2019s certificate in this case insufficient to pass muster under Rule 651(c), we would be hard-pressed to conceive of a certificate that would demonstrate counsel\u2019s compliance, short of one that exactly mirrors the language of the rule. However, our supreme court has never required strict compliance with Rule 651(c). Rather, substantial compliance has been found sufficient. People v. Wright, 149 Ill. 2d 36, 63, 594 N.E.2d 276 (1992) (finding postconviction counsel \u201csubstantially complied with the mandate of Rule 651(c)\u201d).\nShould Richardson contend fundamental fairness, as the Suarez court observed, requires review of the two claims he did not himself present in this successive pro se petition, he is free to file a second successive petition. In such a third petition Richardson, of course, would be subject to the \u201ccause and prejudice\u201d showing. See Pendleton, 223 Ill. 2d at 476. But we note he would be subject to such a showing in this case as well if we were to remand to the circuit court. We must decline to provide him that opportunity in the instant appeal based on our concern that a finding of inadequacy of counsel\u2019s certificate would expand the specific duties under Rule 651(c) imposed on postconviction counsel beyond that which our supreme court has recognized. See Pendleton, 223 Ill. 2d at 475-76.\nUltimately, however, our holding does not depend exclusively upon the adequacy of the certificate filed by postconviction counsel. While we have determined postconviction counsel substantially complied with her specific duties under Rule 651(c), we also hold the duty to amend under Rule 651(c) is limited by \u201c \u2018the constitutional claims raised by the petitioner.\u2019 [Citation.]\u201d Pendleton, 223 Ill. 2d at 475. In the face of two explicit claims that Richardson contends should have been added to his pro se petition, we look to the allegations in the instant pro se petition under our de novo review to determine whether there exists a \u201cgist\u201d of such constitutional claims. See People v. Delton, 227 Ill. 2d 247 (2008). As we have already stated, a gist of each such constitutional claim is not present.\nRichardson\u2019s position that postconviction counsel was nonetheless required to \u201camend\u201d his pro se petition to add such claims transforms the petitioner\u2019s burden of complaining of a constitutional deprivation to a burden on counsel to scour the record for such complaints; in effect, transforming what the supreme court has explicitly stated is a matter of counsel\u2019s judgment into a legal obligation. Richardson argues that because the record demonstrates constitutional violations as borne out by the allegation in his 1992 pro se petition regarding possible police brutality by officers otherwise linked to allegations of police torture and his plainly improper sentence imposed on the underlying felony of felony murder, appointed postconviction counsel was required to amend the pro se petition to add these claims. We find no authority for this position. See People v. Rials, 345 Ill. App. 3d 636, 643, 802 N.E.2d 1240 (2003) (counsel \u201cneed not scour the record to ascertain any other potential errors and constitutional issues not implicated in the defendant\u2019s pro se petition\u201d (emphasis added)).\nWe also reject Richardson\u2019s fail-back argument that the presumption of compliance based on the filing of a certificate is overcome here. Once again, under our de novo review, where there is no \u201cgist\u201d in his successive pro se petition of the constitutional claims Richardson now contends should have been added, Rule 651(c) places no legal duty on postconviction counsel to add those claims to his successive pro se petition for postconviction relief.\nFollowing Pendleton, we find claims otherwise not supported by allegations in his pro se petition and the supplemental petition filed by postconviction counsel waived. Nor can support in the record for the omitted claims serve to shore up his claim that postconviction counsel\u2019s Rule 651(c) certificate was deficient. The circuit court did not err in granting the State\u2019s motion to dismiss.\nCONCLUSION\nPostconviction counsel substantially complied with the specific duties required by Rule 651(c). Postconviction counsel\u2019s duty to amend under Rule 651(c) is constrained by the complaints Richardson set out in his successive pro se petition. Postconviction counsel did not provide unreasonable assistance.\nAccordingly, the judgment of the circuit court of Cook County is affirmed.\nAffirmed.\nCAHILL, EJ., and R. GORDON, J., concur.\nThe petition\u2019s heading indicated it was filed pursuant to section 2\u20141401 of the Code of Civil Procedure (735 ILCS 5/2\u20141401 (West 2004)). As in People v. Suarez, 224 Ill. 2d 37, 41, 862 N.E.2d 977 (2007), the trial court treated the petition as a postconviction petition.", "type": "majority", "author": "JUSTICE GARCIA" } ], "attorneys": [ "Michael J. Pelletier and Erin E.G. McFeron, both of State Appellate Defender\u2019s Office, of Chicago, for appellant.", "Lisa Madigan, Attorney General, of Chicago (Gary Feinerman, Solicitor General, and Leah C. Myers, Assistant Attorney General, of counsel), for the People." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. ANTHONY RICHARDSON, Defendant-Appellant.\nFirst District (1st Division)\nNo. 1\u201405\u20140955\nOpinion filed April 21, 2008.\nMichael J. Pelletier and Erin E.G. McFeron, both of State Appellate Defender\u2019s Office, of Chicago, for appellant.\nLisa Madigan, Attorney General, of Chicago (Gary Feinerman, Solicitor General, and Leah C. Myers, Assistant Attorney General, of counsel), for the People." }, "file_name": "0248-01", "first_page_order": 266, "last_page_order": 277 }